Centre sets up three AI research hubs on health, agri and cities
- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) announced three Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on healthcare, agriculture and sustainable cities.
Highlights:
- On October 15, 2024, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the establishment of three Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in India.
- These CoEs will focus on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities, aimed at fostering innovations, strengthening India's AI capabilities, and contributing to global public good.
Objectives and Vision
- Revolutionizing Key Sectors:
- The CoEs will focus on three critical areas:
- Healthcare: Led by IIT Delhi and AIIMS, this centre aims to leverage AI to enhance healthcare delivery, including diagnostics, treatment, and healthcare infrastructure.
- Agriculture: Spearheaded by IIT Ropar, this CoE will focus on food security and AI-driven advancements in precision farming, crop management, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Sustainable Cities: Led by IIT Kanpur, this CoE will develop AI applications to address urban challenges such as infrastructure management, pollution control, and efficient resource utilization.
- Global Public Good:
- Minister Pradhan emphasized that these CoEs will emerge as "temples of global public good," driving innovation not just for India but for the world. He highlighted the role of India's talent in shaping global AI policies and offering scalable solutions for the world’s challenges.
Funding and Governance:
- The initiative was part of the 2023-24 Budget, under the "Make AI in India and Make AI Work for India" vision, with a financial outlay of ₹990 crore over five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28). This funding will support the development of cutting-edge AI research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the creation of AI-driven applications in the three focus areas.
- To ensure the efficient implementation of these CoEs, the government has formed an apex committee co-chaired by Sridhar Vembu, founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, including key industry stakeholders and experts.
Strategic Importance and Potential Impact
- Healthcare Transformation:
- With AI integration in healthcare, India can revolutionize medical services by:
- Reducing diagnosis time and improving predictive analytics for diseases.
- Enhancing telemedicine and remote healthcare access, especially in rural areas.
- Optimizing hospital management systems and patient care through AI tools.
- Strengthening Agriculture:
- AI applications in agriculture will help Indian farmers by:
- Facilitating precision farming with AI-driven data on soil health, crop growth, and weather conditions.
- Enhancing food security by reducing crop losses and improving supply chain efficiency.
- Supporting sustainable farming practices through real-time monitoring and resource management.
- Sustainable Urban Development:
- For sustainable cities, AI can address urban challenges such as:
- Improving traffic management, reducing congestion and pollution.
- Enhancing waste management and energy efficiency in urban infrastructures.
- Developing smart city solutions for water, electricity, and other resources.
- Boost to India's AI Ecosystem:
- Minister Pradhan expressed confidence that these CoEs will significantly contribute to India's startup ecosystem by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in AI-related fields. The focus on developing AI talent and expertise will also create new job opportunities in research, development, and technology deployment.
Prelims Takeaways:
- Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence (CoEs)